LATICS PREPARE AT TAUNTON

9 November 2013

Ed Jones

Latics prepare for Yeovil challenge at Taunton Town

Latics players are fit and ready to end a gruelling week in which the team will have clocked up more than 5,000 miles after completing a training session this morning (Saturday) at the Wordsworth Drive ground, home of Calor League side Taunton Town.

Owen Coyle’s men face Yeovil Town tomorrow for the clubs’ first ever competitive encounter and Coyle says "we are raring to go, everyone is up for the challenge."

Having flown into the UK in the early hours of yesterday, the players went through a gentle recovery session in the swimming pool and gym yesterday before being put through a full session this morning – joined from by Marc Albrighton and Danny Redmond, both of whom were ineligible for the Europa League .

"The players have adjusted back to UK time now and the session was excellent," says Coyle. "I want to thank the people here at Taunton for their hospitality and for allowing us to use the pitch, the facilities were perfect.

"It’s been a tough week but a good one, the spirit in the camp is excellent and spending the time together allows everyone to bond again.

"Now we are 100% focused on Yeovil Town, who will pose a completely different challenge from Rubin Kazan. Their strength is in their togetherness and it’s going to be a really tough match.

“They have picked up a couple of decent results at home, especially the win against Nottingham Forest, so they will have their tails up and want to get another scalp tomorrow. We have to be wary of that because it’s a tight ground and the atmosphere will be fierce."

Ben Watson has shaken off the stomach bug which kept him out of the FC Rubin Kazan match on Thursday and trained with the rest of the squad this morning.

The club would like to place on record its thanks to Taunton Town FC for their help and wish them luck for the rest of the season.